"The Dinks" Form A Branch in Levin

Chronicle (Levin), 12 April 1948, Page 4

"The Dinks" Form A Branch in Levin

Many half forgotten * memories were brought back to ex-members of thp New Zealand Rifle Brigade when they gathered at a meeting on Baturday night to form a Levin branch of this famous unit of World War I. The Rifle Brigade (the Earl of Liverpool's own) was a special urtit dispatched from New Zealand in two halves, the First and Second Battalion leaving Wellington on October 10, 1915, followAd by the Third Battalion on Fehruary 4, 1916, and the Fourth TBattalion from Auckland on February 5, 1916. The pt.efix nlimberS' for each battalion were 23/, 24/; 25/ , and 26/ respectively. On Saturday memories were renewed of the Rifle Brigade, early nicknamed "The Dinks," memories of places, Armentiers, Fricourt, Fleurs, Fleurbaix, Laventie, Floegsteeft, Messines Ridge and Hill 63.Polygon Wood, Collncamps and Maillett Mailly, Herbuterne to Le Quesnoy; memories of sights and sounds and memories of men. A roll call was heM and those present were as follows: — T. Hewitt 24/1-075 2nd Battalion. C. Bartholomew 25/1680 2nd Batallion, L. Melville 26/461 4th Battalion, T. C. de Mey 460003 3rd Battalion, F. Moffatt 25911 1st Battalion, A. Horh 26/813 3rd Battalion, T. G. Vincent 23/1994 1st Battalion, J. Coulson 23/104 1st Battalion, H. A. Wells 31006 2nd Battalion, C. O'Sullivan 62875 3rd Battalion, G. Armstrong 56703 2nd; Battalion, F. N. Fletcher 23/136 lst Battalion, H. J. Lancaster; 18674 1st Battalion and J. M. MacDonald 23023 2nd Battalion. Apologies were. received from; ' Messrs. H. B. Burdekin, - W. Meddings, W. H. Griffiths, H. E. Moffatt, T. O'Rourke, R. MS,rtin and W. Newton. The pro tem president, Mr.. H. J. Lancaster, \Velcomed those 'present ,and said that he hoped that the venture would be a gredt success. A meeting had been held some six weeks ago, and it had been decided to hold the functioh and' decide just how far the branch would go. The election of officers resulted as follows: — President: ,MI%' H.' ' J. Lancaster; vice-president: Mr. C. O'Sullivan; secretaryrtreaSurer : Mr. F. N. Fletcher; comriiittee: Messrs. F. Moffatt (Northern District) j Mr.- c. .O'Sullivan (Southefn . District) , Mr. T. Hswitt (Western District) . The election of a representative from the eastern district was held in abeyance. Members -decided that the subscription for "the year Would be 2s 6d, which it was- thought Would cover all nomlnal expenses. Mr. T, C. de Mey offered the use of his house for any social functions held. This, he said, would reduce the cost incurred in organising- such a funetion. It was decid-e-d to take advantage of, Mr. de Mey's generous offer and hold" a social gatheMng at which;t-he ifiembers .wives will be present. . • " The aiinuai reunion will be held on- the date of the formation of the. brigade ,in Egypt du^i%i9F6^ d-^Tme^euhion an'd'ebriven'tion "Wbe held in Auckland over King's Birthday weekend was discusse'd, and many members ihtimated that they Would be attehding. The appellation, "The Dinks" was probably first bestowed pn the Rifle Brigade-' parfciy ■ in Sarcasm, partly in fun, by fhe, veterans from Gallipoli, who formed the major portion of the First and Second Brigades — "At last the -dinkum soldiers have arrived." However, after the first battle of the Somme, the term become one of familiar comradeship.